
first image
serpentine gallery pavilion 2012
designed by herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei
© herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei
image © 2012 iwan baan
presented as part of the london 2012 festival, the 12th serpentine gallery by swiss architects herzog & de meuron and
beijing-based ai weiwei is now complete. a plane of water is now floating above the lawn of the serpentine gallery
in london, england, inviting visitors to pass beneath it and observe the recently exposed components of the past structures.
eleven columns representing each of the previous editions elevate the roof plane 1.4 meters from the excavated ground
while an additional support stands for the current construct.
encouraging visitors to delve under the surface, this archeological experience transports them back in time as they
lounge within the interior. cork lines the surfaces of the stepped ground plane and seating to generate a warm location
for repose. during the summer, the venue will host public talks and events during 'park nights' until october 14, 2012.

serpentine gallery pavilion 2012
designed by herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei
© herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei
image © 2012 iwan baan
'all of these foundations will now be uncovered and reconstructed. the old foundations form a jumble of convoluted lines,
like a sewing pattern. a distinctive landscape emerges out of the reconstructed foundations which is unlike anything
we could have invented; its form and shape is actually a serendipitous gift. the three-dimensional reality of this landscape
is astonishing and it is also the perfect place to sit, stand, lie down or just look and be amazed. in other words, the ideal
environment for continuing to do what visitors have been doing in the serpentine gallery pavilions over the past eleven years –
and a discovery for the many new visitors anticipated for the london 2012 olympic games.' - herzog & de meuron + ai weiwei

serpentine gallery pavilion 2012
designed by herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei
© herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei
image © 2012 iwan baan
see designboom's initial coverage of the pavilion's design and unveiling.

serpentine gallery pavilion 2012
designed by herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei
© herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei
image © 2012 iwan baan

serpentine gallery pavilion 2012
designed by herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei
© herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei
image © 2012 iwan baan

serpentine gallery pavilion 2012
designed by herzog & de meuron & ai weiwei
© 2012, by herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei
Looks best from above, kind of dreary underneath like being in a basement. Not very inspiring to me.
espantoso
The worst of the 12 pavillions. Disapointing work from H&dM. Definetely not a corker!
Im really looking forward to seeing it in the flesh as its possibly easy to mis judge from the photos. Certainly its clever but whats it like to experience?
horrible
I loved it on the renders, but i thougt it will be really like a pithole, with soil, and mud surrounding us, it\’s a bit disappoingting to see the final material on these\’s photos, hope it\’s better in real life. I also hoped there would be some concrete foundations left from late pavilions to be shown here, like an excavation.
would have been nice to experience the water also underneath the canopy… as such i wonder what kind of stories the space tells… you see the excavation idea is great!!! mystical…. but what is revealed there ??? this is the question? would love to see it for real…
I’ve been – Can’t believe the negative comments, although likely from people who haven’t experienced the space. Lovely to be in and around.
seems more verbal than architectural !
Water is not always flat
it is alive
here it is dead
as in a pool where one drop causes ripples to spread across the surface
as in a raked Japanese garden
life and contemplation and pause
are expressed in quiet movements… ripples
I sadly do not see that here